Cableway-skidding machine



Oct. 20, 1925. 1558,105

J. R. M GIF'FERT CABLEWAY SKIDDING MACHINE Filed Oct 19, 1921 2 Sheets-Shem 1 :VFM f IN'VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1925.

J. R. M GIFFERT CABLEWAY SKIDDINQ MACHINE 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1921 INVENTQR.

ATTORN Patented Get. 2! 1925.

barren s'rariis PATENT JOHN R. MoGIFEE-RT, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNGB TO CLYDE IEO} WORKS, 0E

DULUTH, IrfEENNE'EOTA, A GOBPORATIQN OF MAINE.

CA BLEVIAY-SKIDDING IVIACHIN'E.

Application filed October 19, 192.1. Serial No. 508,89?'.

T ([7] when: ii may; oncern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. li'lCGlFFERT. a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Duluth. county of St. Louis. and State of lrlinnesota, have invented a new and useful Inu rovement in (lableway-tikid ding Machines. of which the following is a SpGQlfiCfltlOn. the principle of the invention being herein explained and tl best mode in which 1 have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to a cableway skiddingmachine. is more particularly directed to certain features of such a machine relating to the mounting and construction of the spar over which the various operating cables pass. The present invention relates then particularly to an improved type of spa for use on machines of the character referred t or similar machines, the principal object of the invention being the provision of a spar of simpler and more rigid construction than those formerly used, and one which may be readily adjusted to meet the requirements of *arious machines as regards the mount ing of the pulleys or blocks through which the cables pass. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particular y pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail. certain mechanism embodying the invention. such disclosed means constituting. however. but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle or" the invention may be used.

.l n said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cableway skidding machine in which my improved invention is incorpm'ated; Fig. is a front elevation of the some; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section of the adjusting means for one of the supporting; legs of the spar; Fig. 4 is a vertical rear el va ion of a spar showinc the mounting of one of the pulleys; Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the upper portion of the spar; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the buffer springs carried. in the lower portion of the spar.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a cableway skidding machine comprising a car 1 consisting of a platform mounted upon trucks 2 and 3 in such a way that the platform may tiltslightly transversely of the trucks. ()n the platform there is mounted an engine 1% for operating various czzble-receiving drums which will be rererred to presently.

list the forward end of the car there is mounted a spar 'lhis spar consists of two legs 6 and (3 which each extend vertically upward for a short distance and then converge. as shown in Fig. 2: the uppe' portion 7 of the spar being rigidly attached to the adjacent upper ends of the legs 6 and 6. The spar is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis in the form of pins 8 and 8. which pass through the lower ends of the two legs 6 and 6 carried in suitable brackets 9 and 10 mounted on the platform 1. The bracket 9 is in turnpivotally mounted about an axis disposed longitudinally of the platform 1 so that it may be tilted transversely of the car. while the bracket or block 10 is provided with an opening 11 adapted to be brought into registration with one of the three openings 12 formed in the platform and there fastened by means of a pin 13 to variously adjust the elevation of the legs 6. The effect of this vertical adjustment of this leg is to tiltthe entire spar about its axis in the bracket 9, for purposes which will be described hereinafter.

The upper portion '7 of the spar is hollow and is adapted to receive a sleeve there-- in, this sleeve 15 being provided with a horizontally extending}: flange 16. which rests upon the upper end of the spar. and which has a series of downwardly extending lugs 17 with openings 18 adapted to receive guy ropes therein for guying the spar. lnsde of the sleeve 15 there is mounted a bracket 19 which fits snugly into the s eeve. but is rotatable therein. This bracket is provided with a flange 20 which rests upon the flange 16 on the sleeve and has an upwardly extending portion within which is journaled a pulley 21, which, in the mechanism shown in the drawings, carries the trolley cable 22. The trolley cable 22 passes from the pulley 21 down through the spar 7 to the trolley drum 21, the arrangement being such as to permit the cable 22 to be run freely in any direction from the top of the spar 7. Aligned with the pulley 21 is a block 23, which is also mounted in the upper portion of the bracket 19 for carrying a block .ii. around wiich passes the tightening cable 25, which also passes around a lower block 26, to which are attached guy wires 27. These guys 27 are tightened by means of the cable 25, which passes from the pulley downward and over the drum the operation of which will be described later.

The spar may be lifted to the desired elevated position, but is limited by means of a framework 30, against which there contact two buffers 31, which are mounted upon coiled springs 32 carried in tubes 33 in the legs of the spar. The butters Zfl. serve to prevent jarring of the spar and possible injury when it is raised. while the framework limits the vertical position of the spar. The spar is raised until the springs have been somewhat compressed and is then guyed in that position, when the springs and framework constitute a resilient automatic adjusting means for the slight swinging of the spar in the longitu dinal plane of the car.

The hoisting cable 35 passes over the pulley 36. mounted on the spar, and then down to a hoisting drum 37. The slackpulling cable 38, for pulling slack in the hoisting or skidding cable, passes over a pulley 39 and then down to the slack-pulling drum 40, while the out-haul cable ll extends over a pulley 42 and then down to an out-hauling drum The mounting of each of the pulleys 36, 89 and 4-2is exemplified in Fig. l, in which the pulley 36 is shown mounted in a U-bolt 45 which is suspended from a bracket l6. This bracket is mounted about a Vertical axis in the form of a pin H, which is mounted on the rear face of the spar 7, the pulley 36 being permitted to swing freely at the side of the spar and to tilt to whatever vertical position is required.

The spar in the present construction is mounted to swing vertically into the desired vertical position, and is then automatically adjusted in that position by means of the bufiiers and frame 30 to permit it to give slightly either toward or away from the other support for the trolley cable, which may be a tree or post mounted in line with the major axis of the car 1. At the same time the spar is permitted to tilt or to be adjusted transversely of the car, and it is desirable to tilt the spar so that the rarious pulleys 36, 39 and 42 will'swing freely at the side of the spar and will. hang in vertical positions. If the spar were in a central position the various pulleys would be thrown off center a distance equal to half the width of the spar plus half the width of the pulley. together with the necessary clearance between spar and pulley. which would give an undesirable side lead to the cables in winding them on their proper drums. By tilting the spar slightly to one side the various blocks or pulleys may be mounted in perfectly vertical position, and suhstantiall i' centrally with respect to the drums. through which their cables pass.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained. change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed. provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. V

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform, a spar having spaced legs pivotally mounted in aligned brackets horizontally arranged on said platform, one of said brackets being pivotally mounted. on said platform on an 'ariis at right angles to the pivot of said legs, and the other of said brackets being mounted for vertical adjustment on said platform.

2. In a machine of the character scribed, the combination of a platform, spar having spaced legs pivotally mounted about horizontal axes, a sheave-carrying bracket pivotally secured to one side of said spar, said bracket normally being parallel with said spar, and means adapted to vertically adjust one of said legs to tilt the spar, whereby the sheave bracket is suspended at an angle to said spar and away from the side thereof.

Signed by me, this 19th day of September, 1921.

JOHN R. MGGIFFERT. 

